Monday, September 19, 2005

Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the September 19, 2005 issueof the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

THE MORE NORBERTO GONZALES TRIES TO explain his lobbying contract with an American law firm, the more ridiculous he looks. "Ridiculous,"however, is not enough to characterize what has been done."Treasonous" might come closer.

The first task which the contract gives to the American lobbying group is to "(s)ecure grants or congressional earmarks for support of theCharter change initiative of the President of the Philippines, whichwould reshape the form of government in the Philippines from itscurrent structure into a parliamentary federal system." Gonzales tried to cover this up by suggesting that what was more important in thecontract was the task of seeking a "capability enhancement program forthe Armed Forces of the Philippines." The paragraph on capability enhancement, however, comes almost as an afterthought; or morecorrectly, as a camouflage.

What is being sought is the opposite of the patriotic efforts ofFilipino leaders' lobbying in the United States Congress, in the early '30s, for a more honorable Independence Law. Malacañang owes it to theFilipino people to disclose the full story behind this act to subvertthe independence of local efforts to revise the fundamental law. The Constitution guarantees the "right of the people to information onmatters of public concern." Foreign involvement in the revision of ourConstitution is a matter of paramount public concern. It cannot be said that the subject is one of those matters to which public accessto information may be limited. The subject does not involve "statesecrets regarding military, diplomatic and other national security," even if it involves principally the political aspirations of certainpublic figures.

Significantly, there is this constitutional rule about financialcontributions from foreign governments: "Financial contributions from foreign governments and their agencies to political parties,organizations, coalitions, or candidates related to electionsconstitute interference in national affairs, and, when accepted, shallbe an additional ground for the cancellation of their registration with the Commission, in addition to other penalties that may beprescribed by law." The proscription of financial contribution topolitical parties from foreign governments is designed to insulate theelectoral process from foreign interference. Accepting such contribution comes close to being treasonous.

The evil becomes magnified when the intended object of interference isthe re-crafting of the fundamental law. If acceptance of contributionfor such object is not explicitly prohibited by the Constitution, it is not because the Constitution does not see it as an evil but ratherbecause the evil is so obvious that no thinking person can miss it. Infact, this is so obvious to many current high-ranking officials that they have quickly joined in the chorus singing that they know or knewnothing about it.

As if the sin could be covered by making it private, Gonzales has goneon to say that public money will not be spent but that money will come or has come from private individuals. Does a government acquit itselffrom a criminal liability simply by enticing goons to do a crime?

I am not saying that the alleged private contributors are goons. They may be perfectly honorable, if misguided, individuals. But we shouldbe told, under the right to information on matters of public concern,who these private individuals are. Are they Filipinos or are theyforeigners? What are their own private interests? This is a matter that is crying for a public confession and not just a simpleacknowledgment of a lapse in judgment.

If there is anything that we should learn from this caper, it is thatthis administration cannot be trusted with orchestrating the revision of our Constitution. For reasons of its own, whether honorable or not,it is dead set on forcing a switch to a parliamentary and federal formof government. The constitutional revision enterprise is a solemnly sovereign one. It should be insulated from influences that can imprinton the fundamental law directions that do or can undermine nationalinterest. We know from our experience in the electoral process thatmoney can be dangled to deaden consciences. Foreign money should not be allowed, much less should it be sought, to influence popularchoice.

Betrayal of public trust was the leading accusation against GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo in the impeachment proceeding against her. That accusation has not been cleared. It has merely been swept under therug by a subservient House of Representatives. Now comes this appealfor financial assistance from a foreign government to subvert thesolemn sovereign task of revising our Constitution. If she had nothing to do with it, she should disown it promptly. If she is its occultauthor, she should rue it publicly.

Several years ago, when the renewal of the Philippine-US BasesAgreement was the issue, senators stood tall to oppose the President's desire. The nation cheered. Revising the Constitution can be moresignificant and more far-reaching in its effect than the fate of theUS Military Bases in the Philippines. Forces within the currentadministration, in their desire to have their way in the amendatory process, are bent on drowning the Senate in an avalanche of House ofRepresentatives votes. This is a moment when once again senatorsshould stand tall

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Now in its 8th year, the Cine Europa Film Festival is eagerly awaited byall aficionados of European cinema.

Organised by the Embassies of the European Union Member States and theDelegation of the European Commission in Manila the festival will takeplace at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd. (easy access byMRT, plenty of parking available) from Thursday, Sept. 22 to Sunday, Oct02, 2005.

Please find attached a draft flyer with the screening schedule and a briefsynopsis of each films. I have also attached some more information aboutthe German film "Kroko". Films will be shown in the original languagewith English subtitles.